The Houston Rockets-San Antonio Spurs is almost more chess than basketball.
The Spurs can begin a defensive possession with Kawhi Leonard guarding James Harden all they want, but when Harden shoots or passes it’s after a series of picks, screens and flares which make it unlikely Leonard is the closest Spur or puts the NBA’s best defender a step behind.
It’s an hardwood version of chess. With Gregg Popovich and Mike D’Antoni doing everything possible to both utilize and protect their most important assets.
That’s where Ryan Anderson comes in.
Think about this statement. Ryan Anderson always had the Spurs best or worst defender guarding him: Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge respectively.